National Research Council Report Summary: Future Roles and Opportunities
for the U.S. Geological Survey (2-18-01)

This National Research Council (NRC)
report was produced to analyze the future needs and responsibilities of
the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The role of the USGS requires redefinition in light of recent technological
advances, societal changes, and the incorporation of the National Biological
Service into the agency. The NRC report contains conclusions and
recommendations to spur the USGS to become more effective in its role as
a natural science and information agency. A diverse group of experts
from government, academia, and industry participated in the development
of the report. An AGI summary
of the group's first meeting, in which the committee outlined goals
of the study, can be found on this website.

The report gives conclusions and recommendations in three categories:
major responsibilities, national and international roles, and improving
effectiveness. The recommendations for the future of the USGS are derived
from the conclusions of the panel.

Major Responsibilities

"Provide national leadership and coordination in monitoring, reporting,
and forecasting phenomena, including earthquakes, volcanic activity, streamflow,
and ecological indicators."

"Provide national leadership and coordination in assessing resources, including
energy, minerals, water, and biota."

"Provide national leadership and coordination in providing geospacial information."

More resources should be allocated to data interpretation and making information
more accessible, while continuing conducting surveys, monitoring, data
analysis, research, information dissemination, and product generation.

National and International Roles

"Ensure that science information is provided to Department of the Interior
(DOI) bureaus in an efficient and effective way." The DOI bureaus
also have a responsibility to ensure that USGS personnel and resources
are used in department decision making.

"Develop international expertise in natural science problems relevant to
the USGS mission." In particular, the USGS should pursue studies
that support U.S. interests, increase technical assistance to foreign countries
that are developing relevant natural science programs, benefit domestic
programs, and increase the international stature of the agency.

Improving Effectiveness

Priority Setting

"Develop a more effective process to assess and prioritize customer needs."
The agency needs to set priorities and then reduce personnel and funds
in projects outside of these priorities in order to avoid over-commitment
of resources.

"Develop and set a research agenda that is balanced appropriately between
problem- specific research and core research."

"Establish and make extensive use of external advisory committees to develop
research agendas as well as designing individual programs."

Strengthen coordination and collaboration with other federal agencies,
states, academia, and industry.

"Ensure that reimbursable contracts meet mission and strategic goals and
that they do not compete unfairly with states or other organizations,"
that can provide a similar service.

Budget

The budget of the USGS should increase in accordance with the increase
in agency responsibility. The agency should request and justify funds
to support the development of a research portfolio in the national interest.

"Budget requests should contain sufficient flexibility to permit the USGS
director to respond rapidly to new research challenges and opportunities."

The primary theme of all these recommendations is that the future responsibilities
of the USGS could easily outstrip the agency's effectiveness if actions
are not taken to allocate the agency's resources toward well defined goals;
to better coordinate between other agencies, states, and private entities;
to pursue more quality personnel; and to pursue monetary resources.

The report can
be read online from the National Academy Press website.